DaveH6
Perfect sailing conditions
Beam reaching in about 11 knots of Westerly winds returning to Annapolis after visiting the Bay Bridge. Most of our boat's electrical and mechanical systems are working well. However, long neglected cosmetic issues embarrass me and next Spring I hope to give them priority treatment in my long list of car, house and boat projects.
Weekday sailing this time of year means little recreational boat traffic to dodge. However, I keep the radar running as my 155% head sail creates a large blind spot.
Five Naval Academy 80' Yard Patrol boats were manuvering as we neared the Academy. Training midshipmen, the boats are commanded by the book (sound signals, proper right of way protocols, etc.) thus no concerns while under sail of getting into a tussle with one of them.
A large percentage of reported maritime accidents in Maryland occur in the mouth of the Severn River near Annapolis. Heavy recreational traffic. Folks party hard in Annapolis and take to their high speed powerboats blasting through the Severn River at night. One horrific night time accident occurred when a high speed boat leaving Annapolis drove over another boat. Folks were shredded to death by propellors.
Two friends of ours were sailing circa 1972 on a 22' boat on the lower Chesapeake Bay near Taylors Island when hit by a very sudden micro-burst. The boat was knocked down and sank (it lacked flotation). Though the wife was a non-swimmer, neither she nor the husband were wearing life jackets. The husband tried to keep her head above water. A passing boat pulled them out but the wife was DOA at the hospital. A day later the husband committed suicide.
Perhaps this event was in the back of my mind when I, perhaps unnecessarily, increased the flotation in my Bluejacket beyond what the designer prescribed.
When just the two of us onboard our sailboat, Ann and I wear inflatable life jackets as our self help abilities have dimished with age.
Perfect sailing conditions
Beam reaching in about 11 knots of Westerly winds returning to Annapolis after visiting the Bay Bridge. Most of our boat's electrical and mechanical systems are working well. However, long neglected cosmetic issues embarrass me and next Spring I hope to give them priority treatment in my long list of car, house and boat projects.
Weekday sailing this time of year means little recreational boat traffic to dodge. However, I keep the radar running as my 155% head sail creates a large blind spot.
Five Naval Academy 80' Yard Patrol boats were manuvering as we neared the Academy. Training midshipmen, the boats are commanded by the book (sound signals, proper right of way protocols, etc.) thus no concerns while under sail of getting into a tussle with one of them.
A large percentage of reported maritime accidents in Maryland occur in the mouth of the Severn River near Annapolis. Heavy recreational traffic. Folks party hard in Annapolis and take to their high speed powerboats blasting through the Severn River at night. One horrific night time accident occurred when a high speed boat leaving Annapolis drove over another boat. Folks were shredded to death by propellors.
Two friends of ours were sailing circa 1972 on a 22' boat on the lower Chesapeake Bay near Taylors Island when hit by a very sudden micro-burst. The boat was knocked down and sank (it lacked flotation). Though the wife was a non-swimmer, neither she nor the husband were wearing life jackets. The husband tried to keep her head above water. A passing boat pulled them out but the wife was DOA at the hospital. A day later the husband committed suicide.
Perhaps this event was in the back of my mind when I, perhaps unnecessarily, increased the flotation in my Bluejacket beyond what the designer prescribed.
When just the two of us onboard our sailboat, Ann and I wear inflatable life jackets as our self help abilities have dimished with age.